Chinese Woman Loses Vision After Video Game Binge

Chinese Woman Loses Vision After Video Game Binge, But Only In One Eye

You always hear warnings about a video game binge being bad for you, but people don’t think anything bad will happen to them. Wu Xiaojing (not her real name) was one of those people who didn’t heed the warnings. Ms. Wu spent 24 hours playing the sickeningly popular Chinese smartphone game, Honor of Kings, and then it happened to her. She lost vision in her right eye due to retinal artery occlusion. I’m no eye doctor, and I’ve never played one in a school play, but that doesn’t sound good. The doctor who diagnosed her says that the condition is often found in elderly people, and it is very rare among younger folks. Severe eye strain is the cause of the condition. Blindness is the effect.

When I wore a younger man’s clothes, I have on several occasions, played video games for at least 24 hours in one sitting. However, the game wasn’t on a phone, which is harder on the eyes than playing a game on a big television.

Ms. Wu’s Parents Warned Her She Would Go Blind From Video Game Binge

The 21-year-old video game binge queen said that she became obsessed with the multi-player smartphone game about ten months ago. She said that her parents told her that she “would go blind” from her marathon gaming sessions, but she didn’t heed the words of her parents. For once, the parents were right. Normally, parents just don’t understand.

On weekends, Ms. Wu (no relation to the Wu-Tang Clan from Staten Island, NY), would wake up at 6 a.m. and start playing. “I will take a nap at 4 p.m., then I’ll eat something and carry on till 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. I would be so absorbed in the game that I would forget to eat or go to the bathroom.” Been there, done that.

Honor of Kings Had Time Limits to Prevent Kids From Having a Video Game Binge

There has been public outrage from some Chinese citizens due to the addictiveness of the game. The game’s developer, TENCENT, has added time restrictions to the game for players under 18. However, kids are technically savvy, and they have found loopholes. Young children are signing up for player ID’s using adult’s info. that is easily found or bought online. Nothing is going to stop the kids from their video game binge. It is also being reported that the system can be hacked and young players can change their age.

TENCENT’s team said in a statement: “A perfect system and function can never be achieved overnight. We expect assistance and cooperation from parents.” And there you have it. The video game cannot be held responsible for people’s inability to control themselves. What should they do to prevent it? Create a crappy game? I think not. It’s not their fault if somebody goes on a huge video game binge.

For players who are between the ages of 12 and 18, the system allows them to play for a measly two hours a day. Two hours is nothing when it comes to playing a game. No wonder youngsters are hacking the game’s system.

Honor of Kings may be coming to US and European markets. If it does, please, for the love of all creatures big and small: don’t play it till you go blind in your right eye… or your left eye.